Science, Spoken

Latest Episodes:

What Octopus Dreams Tell Us About the Evolution of Sleep Apr 29, 2021

Show notes

Understanding how other animals dream could help us figure out why it’s so important to the human brain, and why it may have been preserved throughout history.

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Humble Shrub That’s Predicting a Terrible Fire Season Apr 28, 2021

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Chamise may not look (or smell) like much, but it's actually a kind of crystal ball for understanding how badly California might burn.

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Will Future Electric Vehicles Be Powered by Deep-Sea Metals? Apr 27, 2021

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Mining companies and marine scientists want to know whether harvesting blobs of useful materials from the seafloor harms ocean life.

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Plastic Is Falling From the Sky. But Where’s It Coming From? Apr 26, 2021

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At any given time, 1,100 tons of microplastic are floating over the western US. New modeling shows the surprising sources of the nefarious pollutant.

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How Many Homes Could You Power With Free Doughnuts? Apr 23, 2021

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Krispy Kreme is offering a year of treats to anyone who gets the Covid-19 vaccine. What if they worked off the energy on pedal-powered bike generators?

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Pandemic Lockdowns Did Cut Air Pollution—but With a Catch Apr 22, 2021

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Studies from all over the globe show short-term improvements in urban air quality, but experts are skeptical about how long they’ll last.

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The High-Powered Thrusters Behind NASA's Mission to Psyche Apr 21, 2021

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Hall thrusters have been used in satellites for years. Now, they'll play a crucial role in reaching a metallic asteroid called Psyche.

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Covid-19 Vaccine Passports Are Coming. What Will That Mean? Apr 20, 2021

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Scores of plans to verify immunity are in the works. But there are even more questions about how they’ll use data, protect privacy—and who gets certified first.

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This Sticker Absorbs Sweat—and Might Diagnose Cystic Fibrosis Apr 19, 2021

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The device may make it easier to quickly test newborns and could open the door to at-home monitoring.

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More Lightning in the Arctic Is Bad News for the Planet Apr 16, 2021

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Lightning strikes in the far north could double by 2100. That means more wildfires, which could release massive amounts of planet-warming gas.

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